Clayton Kershaw began a rehab assignment last week with the Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, throwing 36 pitches (26 strikes) over three innings in his first game action since the 2023 National League Division Series.

“I think it was good,” Kershaw said after his outing. “I checked off a lot of boxes, got through three innings. First time in a game setting and all those things. So it was fun to get back out there, I hadn’t done that in a while. So as long as everything comes out tomorrow fine, I think I’m on for the next one.”

In the ensuing days, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Kershaw was scheduled to continue his rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday. However, it then was revealed that Kershaw has dealt with lingering soreness in his surgically-repaired left shoulder.

With that, the Dodgers decided Kershaw will not make his scheduled start Tuesday for the Oklahoma City Baseball Club and he instead is shut down from throwing for at least one week, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times:

 

Despite the shoulder soreness, Kershaw threw what Roberts described as a “light” bullpen session on Saturday. He then was due to play catch Sunday before the Dodgers departed for the start of a six-game road trip.

The plan for Kershaw had been to continue adding one inning with each outing and make a minimum of three starts before potentially joining the Dodgers’ rotation.

When will Clayton Kershaw return?

At the time of Kershaw revealing he underwent left shoulder surgery, there was an expectation of returning to pitch at some point after the 2024 MLB All-Star Game.

Kershaw has been considered ahead of schedule with his rehab process, but he and the Dodgers have declined to set any sort of timetable.

Even with the setback of sorts, Kershaw likely will be back in the Dodgers rotation by the start of August.

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